Abstract: A sensor device mountable on a threaded valve stem of an inflatable tire of a vehicle having an actuating pin adapted to be depressed by a component of an air gauge or a connecting fixture of a compressed air line, generally consisting of a housing defining a closed chamber, having a first threaded opening permitting such housing to be threaded onto the valve stem, and a second opening; an abutment pin disposed in the housing engageable with the actuating pin of the valve stem for depressing the actuating pin of the valve stem and thereby opening the valve stem when the housing is threaded onto the valve stem, providing an intercommunication of the interiors of the tire and the housing; a valve disposed in the second opening of the housing having an actuating pin adapted to be depressed by the component of an air gauge or connecting fixture of a compressed air line; a sensor mounted in the housing for sensing the pressure in the housing chamber; a microcontroller connected to the pressure sensor for receiving

Abstract: An infeed slug loader provides for the formation of stacks or slugs of individual articles, and transfers the completed slugs to a wrapping machine. The present slug loader may be used to assemble stacks or slugs of various relatively small and flat articles, but is particularly well suited for handling food articles such as cookies, crackers, and the like. The slug loader accepts articles delivered sequentially on a delivery conveyor, and stacks them on a slope by using a turnover wheel which inserts each unit of the stack from the bottom. The use of a slope for slug assembly, obviates the need for a leading retainer for the slug at this point. The turnover wheel is mechanically linked to the infeed conveyor, with a trailing finger or pin picking up the bottom of the slug when a predetermined number of units have been stacked to form the slug. The slug is then pushed up the slope to a horizontal run, where a retractable lead finger or pin extends to hold the front end of the slug.

Abstract: A system for displaying dynamic readings of a motor vehicle's tire pressure, temperature and tire ride efficiency comprises individual integrated units that are removably attached to each valve stem. Each unit comprises a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor coupled to a microcontroller which activates a transmitter/receiver set with a measured signal. The signal is received by a transmitter/receiver set in a passenger compartment mounted display which feeds a signal through a microcontroller to the display unit. In operation, theft prevention serial numbers of the remote sensors are entered in the display unit. Each individual sensor may then be queried sequentially with the appropriate serial number to provide a pressure and temperature reading for a particular tire as well as battery condition. The readings and warning signals are activated in the display unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for grouping cookies, cracker, or other planar objects, and dispensing a group of said objects into a receptacle. A conveyor is provided which dispenses such planar objects into a substantially vertically-oriented stack. The height of the stack is controlled by providing a combination of a pressure sensor, which, through conventional circuitry, causes an object-supporting carriage to be indexed, depending upon the height of the object stack held by the carriage. Upon receiving a preset number of objects within the carriage, or upon a preset height of objects stacked being accomplished, the carriage is pivoted from a substantially vertical position into a substantially horizontal position, whereupon the group of objects is dispensed into a tray or other conventional receptacle. A dual-stack configuration is also contemplated.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the length of a chain path having cookie or cracker divider assemblies attached thereto. A continuous series of edge-stacked cookies or crackers may be divided into groups by the divider assemblies. Adjustment of slide bars in the path of the roller chain allow for adjustment of the length of chain intermediate the slide bars. Also provided is an articulating finger configured to work in cooperation with a vibrating chute.